Holder for a portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A holder for a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone comprising a carrier  1  with a neck strap  3  connected thereto. A microphone  5  and an earphone  4  and are electrically connectable to a mobile phone  6  or other portable electronic device by means of an electrical connector  22  provided on a connector  2  at the base of a pocket  12  in which the phone is located. The pocket  12  has a strap  11  extending therefrom with a clip  13  at one end with male connectors  14  thereon which cooperate with female connectors  21  on the connector part  2  to retain the phone  6  in the pocket  12.

[0001] This invention relates to a holder for a portable electronicdevice which has a strap that the user can hang around his or her neckthereby providing a most convenient way of using and accessing anelectronic device held therein.

[0002] The holder of the invention is especially suitable for use withmobile communication, data management and/or sound reproduction devices.

[0003] Mobile phones are generally used in circumstances which are notdangerous or inconvenient. However, there are several situations inwhich the user may need to use the phone in a hands-free mode, forinstance when driving an automobile. A major disadvantage of sucharrangements however is that the phone cannot then be used outside theautomobile. In order to increase the popularity and variety of functionsof modern mobile phones and other portable electronic devices, there isa need for a holder which is more convenient and easier to use.

[0004] The holder of the present invention is designed to solve theincreasing needs of users of portable electronic devices.

[0005] According to the invention, there is provided a holder for aportable electronic device with operating controls comprising a neckstrap attached to a carrier to releasably receive and retain a portableelectronic device therein.

[0006] Preferably the carrier has one or more apertures therein toprovide access to the operating controls of the portable electronicdevice.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the carrier includes a pocket intowhich the electronic device can be inserted and retaining means whichcan engage with the carrier to retain an electronic device in thepocket.

[0008] Preferably the retaining means is a strap with securing meansthereon operable to releasably attach the strap to the carrier, thesecuring means comprising a male connector provided on the strap whichreleasably cooperates with a female connector on the carrier. In thepreferred embodiment, the male connector is located at the free end ofthe strap whereas the female connector is located at the bottom of thecarrier, for instance, on a connector attached thereto or vice versa.

[0009] The carrier is preferably made of a soft flexible material suchas silicone rubber, PVC or polyurethane. Preferably the flexiblematerial is transparent or translucent to allow the user to see throughthe holder and thereby read any displays which may be provided on theelectronic device held therein.

[0010] The male and female connectors can take any convenient form whichenables the strap to be releasably attached to the carrier. Forinstance, a Velcro connection can be used or alternatively metal ormoulded plastic parts can be used which together provide a releasableconnection.

[0011] At its simplest, the present invention provides a holder for aportable electronic device which has a strap connected thereto which theuser can wear around his or her neck to suspend the device therefrom.However, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a microphonewhich is connected to the carrier, the microphone having a plug locatedin the carrier which is arranged to be received in the appropriatesocket on the electronic device when it is inserted therein. A controlunit for the electronic device can also be connected to the carrier.Conveniently, the microphone and receiver are connected to the carriervia the control unit by a wire located inside the neck strap.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, a receiver is also connected to thecarrier and to the plug located therein. Conveniently the receiver isalso connected to the control unit.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of a holder of the invention with a mobilephone supported therein and also including a microphone and headset;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the holder shown in FIG. 1 prior to amobile phone being inserted therein;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the holder shown in FIG. 2 but after themobile phone has been inserted therein and showing the securing strappartially folded over the phone; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the holder shown in FIG. 3 but with thesecuring strap fully folded over the mobile phone to retain it in theholder.

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a preferred holder ofthe invention which comprises two basic components namely a carrier 1and a neck strap 3. It also includes the optional sub-assemblies of aconnector 2, a microphone 5 and a headset or earphone 4. Mobile phone 6is retained in the carrier 1 and is electrically connected to microphone5 and headset 4 by the connector 2 which will be described in moredetail hereafter.

[0019] The carrier 1 is preferably made of a soft transparent ortranslucent material such as silicone rubber, PVC or polyurethane and isgenerally ribbon shaped as can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2. Agenerally cylindrical pocket is formed on the rear of the carrier 1 byX-shaped portion 12 into which portable electronic devices such as amobile phone can be placed, for instance as shown in FIG. 3. The frontcarrier 1 is formed with a cut out or window 1A to provide the user withaccess to the operating controls of the portable device insertedtherein, e.g. mobile phone keypad 6A as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.The end of the carrier 1 remote from the X-shaped portion 12 is formedinto a strap 11 having a clip 13 thereon with a pair of spaced maleconnector members 14 which cooperate with a pair of spaced femaleconnectors 21 on the connector 2 to releasably attach the clip 13 to theconnector 2.

[0020] Connector 2 is attached to the base of the carrier 1 adjacent theX-shaped pocket portion 12 and is provided with an electrical connectorpin 22 shaped to fit into a suitable socket in a portable electronicdevice such as a mobile phone. The pin 22 makes an electrical connectionwith the mobile phone 6 so that electrical signals from the phone 6 aretransmitted via a wire located inside the neck strap 3 to the headset 4and the microphone 5. The connector 2 also includes the female connectorparts 21 which receive the male connector parts 14. Preferably the maleand female parts make a snap or press-fit connection. However, insteadof the illustrated arrangement, the male connector can be a pin with anenlarged head which is releasably received in a keyhole shaped slot inknown manner.

[0021] The neck strap 3 extends from both sides of the connector 2 andforms a loop which enables a portable electronic device to be hungaround a user's neck, the electrical connection or wire for the headset4 and the microphone 5 being fed through the interior of the strap tothe connector 2 and pin 22 thereon.

[0022] When a user has installed a portable electronic device such as amobile phone in the carrier 1 and has placed the headset 4 into his orher ear, the user can then move about freely without having to use hisor her hands to hold the electronic device in order to talk or listen.The invention also places the portable electronic device on the userschest where it can readily be reached so it is extremely easy to use.

[0023] It should be noted that the holder of the invention has beendescribed and illustrated in relation to holding a mobile phone in it.However, the concept can be applied to PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)MP3 players, radios, recording and playback devices, CD playback devicesand any other portable electronic device of this type available now orin the future.

[0024] It should also be noted that at its simplest, the inventioncomprises a holder for a portable electronic device which has a neckstrap attached thereto. The addition of a microphone, headset orearphone and the electrical connection between them using the pin 22 areonly preferred.

[0025] To summarise, the illustrated preferred embodiment comprises acarrier 1 made of a soft see-through material. One side of the carrieris ribbon shaped and has a cut out window 14 in it to provide access tothe operating controls 6A of the electronic device when insertedtherein. The other side of the ribbon shaped part has a cylindricalshaped container or pocket 12 on it into which the portable electronicdevice 6 may be inserted. The ribbon side of the soft carrier terminatesin a strap 11 which can be folded over a portable electronic device inthe pocket to completely secure said device therein.

[0026] The holder of the invention preferably includes a connector 2having a pin 22 which electrically connects a portable electronic device6 inserted in the carrier 1 to a headset 4 and microphone 5 attached tothe strap 3 so that the device can be used for voice communication in ahands-free manner.

1. A holder for portable electronic device with operating controls comprising a neck strap attached to a carrier to releasably receive and retain a portable electronic device therein.
 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier has one or more apertures therein to provide access to the operating controls of the portable electronic device.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a pocket into which the electronic device can be inserted and retaining means which can engage with the carrier to retain an electronic device in the pocket.
 4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the retaining means is a strap with securing means thereon operable to releasably attach the strap to the carrier.
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the securing means comprises a male connector provided on the strap which releasably cooperates with a female connector on the carrier or vice versa.
 6. A holder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strap has a free end on which the male connector is located.
 7. A holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein the female connector is located at the bottom of the carrier.
 8. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of a soft flexible material.
 9. A holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soft flexible material is transparent or translucent.
 10. A holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the soft flexible material is selected from the group consisting of silicon, rubber, PVC and polyurethane.
 11. A holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the male and female connectors are made of a rigid plastic material.
 12. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a microphone is connected to the carrier, the microphone having a plug located in the carrier arranged to be received in the appropriate socket on an electronic device when inserted in the carrier.
 13. A holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the microphone is included in a control unit for the electronic device.
 14. A holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein a receiver is connected to the carrier and to the plug located therein.
 15. A holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiver is connected to the carrier via the control unit.
 16. A holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the microphone, control unit and a receiver are all connected to the carrier by a wire located inside the neck strap. 